South Australia's Chief Public Health Officer has joined a list of stars including Beyonce, Danny DeVito and Arnold Schwarzenegger by having a newly discovered species named after them.
A bacterium which could be used in fermented food and beverages will be named after Nicola Spurrier.
University of Adelaide PhD student Scott Oliphant said the lactic acid bacterium was called Nicolia spurrieriana in recognition of Professor Spurrier's work during the COVID-19 pandemic, which he appreciated as a "science-based management strategy".
"It took a lot of time," he said.
"There is a process, a bit of a committee with the supervisors, to go through a possible name and do some brainstorming.
"And of course you have to Latinise it, so it took a Latin professor to help us with that as well, so it's actually a very involved process."
The Nicolia spurrieriana bacterium was discovered – along with three other species – when researchers were analysing micro-organisms on Australian stingless bees.
It could find uses in winemaking, bread-making and pickling.
"It is very distinct genetically from other types of lactic acid bacteria," Mr Oliphant said.
"It has a much larger genome than its neighbours, as well as the presence of unique genes not shared by other lactic acid bacteria.
"This means it could very likely contribute to unique characteristics in food fermentation processes, such as in the creation of bread or pickling various foods.
"We will also test its ability to aid in winemaking. Everybody loves unique flavours in wine, as long as they are delicious."
Professor Spurrier said she was honoured to have the bacterium named after her.
"My father Dr Ross Smith was a clinical microbiologist for the University of Adelaide's School of Medicine for many years — this would have given him much pleasure if he was still alive," she said.
The research was published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.
